1. Intro to Stats and Collecting Data

Which of the following is a discrete quantitative set of data?

Computer Virus In an AOL survey of Internet users, this question was posted online: “Have you ever been hit by a computer virus?” Among the 170,063 responses, 63% answered “yes.” What term is used to describe this type of survey in which the people surveyed consist of those who chose to respond? What is wrong with this type of sampling method?

Reported Versus Measured In a survey of 1046 adults conducted by Bradley Corporation, subjects were asked how often they wash their hands when using a public restroom, and 70% of the respondents said “always.”

a) Identify the sample and the population.

In Exercises 5–8, determine whether the given source has the potential to create a bias in a statistical study.

AAA The American Automobile Association (AAA) is a not-for-profit federation of motor clubs that provides automotive and travel services. AAA conducts a survey of its members about their use of public transportation versus private automobiles.

In Exercises 13–20, determine whether the results appear to have statistical significance, and also determine whether the results appear to have practical significance.

Bias in Jury Selection In the case of Casteneda v. Partida, it was found that during a period of 11 years in Hidalgo County, Texas, 870 people were selected for grand jury duty, and 39% of them were Americans of Mexican ancestry. Among the people eligible for grand jury duty, 79.1% were Americans of Mexican ancestry.

In Exercises 21–24, refer to the sample of body temperatures (degrees Fahrenheit) in the table below. (The body temperatures are from Data Set 5 in Appendix B.)

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Context of the Data Refer to the table of body temperatures. Is there some meaningful way in which each body temperature recorded at 8 AM is matched with the 12 AM temperature?

In Exercises 21–24, refer to the sample of body temperatures (degrees Fahrenheit) in the table below. (The body temperatures are from Data Set 5 in Appendix B.)

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Conclusion Given the body temperatures in the table, what issue can be addressed by conducting a statistical analysis of the data?

In Exercises 21–24, refer to the sample of body temperatures (degrees Fahrenheit) in the table below. (The body temperatures are from Data Set 5 in Appendix B.)

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Conclusion If we analyze the listed body temperatures with suitable methods of statistics, we conclude that when the differences are found between the 8 AM body temperatures and the 12 AM body temperatures, there is a 64% chance that the differences can be explained by random results obtained from populations that have the same 8 AM and 12 AM body temperatures. What should we conclude about the statistical significance of those differences?

a

In Exercises 9–12, determine whether the sampling method appears to be sound or is flawed.

Nuclear Power Plants In a survey of 1368 subjects, the following question was posted on the USA Today website: “In your view, are nuclear plants safe?” The survey subjects were Internet users who chose to respond to the question posted on the electronic edition of USA Today.

In Exercises 9–12, determine whether the sampling method appears to be sound or is flawed.

Clinical Trials Researchers at Yale University conduct a wide variety of clinical trials by using subjects who volunteer after reading advertisements soliciting paid volunteers.

In Exercises 13–20, determine whether the results appear to have statistical significance, and also determine whether the results appear to have practical significance.

Mendel’s Genetics Experiments One of Gregor Mendel’s famous hybridization experiments with peas yielded 580 offspring with 152 of those peas (or 26%) having yellow pods. According to Mendel’s theory, 25% of the offspring peas should have yellow pods.

In Exercises 13–20, determine whether the results appear to have statistical significance, and also determine whether the results appear to have practical significance.

Election Fraud The County Clerk in Essex County, New Jersey, was responsible for randomly assigning the order in which candidates’ names appeared on a recent election ballot. Among 41 different ballots, a Democrat was placed on the first line 40 times, and a Republican was placed on the first line once.

In Exercises 29–36, identify what is wrong.

Potatoes In a poll sponsored by the Idaho Potato Commission, 1000 adults were asked to select their favorite vegetables, and the favorite choice was potatoes, which were selected by 26% of the respondents.

In Exercises 29–36, identify what is wrong.

Healthy Water In a USA Today online poll, 951 Internet users chose to respond, and 57% of them said that they prefer drinking bottled water instead of tap water.